Too many interesting odds and ends to dedicate a column to one topic this week. Here's a rapid fire look at some things I find worthy of comment:

o The Don't Start Device. A company is marketing a device that stops a car from functioning if the owner is late on their payments (see story page 8). The late period can be set by the lender. Obviously there are some benefits to this type of device, but I won't even list them because the negatives far outweigh them!

What have credit unions become if they have to rely on a Big Brother-like tool to shut off someone's car? I'd much rather see credit unions utilize well thought out risk-based lending than this. Credit unions tout their ability to get to know a member's unique financial situation. Relying on this device means a credit union didn't like what they learned about the member. Then don't make the loan. Think of the PR implications of a member telling everyone their car was shut off by the credit union, whether it was just or not. I know there are safeguards, but I worry about emergency situations of a car not starting. Credit unions don't need that potential legal or PR headache. And to those CUs that don't believe in risk-based lending, remember you can reward the member with a better rate if they meet payment milestones.

o Parish Comes Clean. Kudos to Wings Financial CEO Paul Parish for at least being honest about the takeover attempt of Continental FCU. Parish was quoted in a Minnesota business journal saying that the cost of acquiring Continental would be much cheaper than going out and winning over new members one by one. Duh! Of course it is! It's a steal! But that's a lot different than touting how the deal is all about the members, which Wings has been saying all along. I think the Wings/Continental fiasco has gone too far. Continental has been forced to threaten legal action against Wings, while Wings says despite that threat it will push on courting Continental's members. Once again the credit union industry has everyone's attention–bankers, regulators and legislators–and it's for a bad reason.

o Clipped Wings. Speaking of Wings, it appears the CU was attempting to consolidate airline credit unions. If you think about various airline hubs, routes, etc., there probably could be some benefit, but it's certainly not necessary, it could hurt the morale of airline and credit union employees and members, and Wings isn't the crew to pull it off. Is Wings forgetting the deep loyalties airline CUs have? The venerable Mr. Tippets down in Texas could surely enlighten them on that. Delta, American Airlines, becoming one? I don't think so.

o What You Say Is What You Say. The sad story of Don Imus's comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team (located in my great home state of New Jersey) had me thinking about quotes.

I recently sat down with a credit union CEO who has been part of some controversial stories of late. This CEO was livid about being misquoted in a credit union publication multiple times. And I mean livid. The CEO pleaded with the editor and reporter to make a correction and let him set the record straight, and he was shunned. The CEO said to me, “Paul it just drives me nuts, but what can I do?”

There is plenty the CEO could do. In fact it's very simple. Despite being advised by PR experts that he or she should be talking to all publications, the CEO needs to learn from history. If you feel you are misquoted or often misrepresented, don't say no comment when the offending publication calls you, instead say the truth: “Sorry, you have repeatedly misrepresented me and my position in your stories. You and your publication have lost credibility with me and my organization.” Be very clear that you don't say no comment, but say those words! That is your comment! Then see if you get the record set straight. Continually talking to reporters that misrepresent you is just rewarding bad behavior. And you know me, I am an advocate of always being straight with the press and having an open, good relationship–that's how you build credibility in the marketplace. You should be proud of your organization and your actions so getting that out in the press is vital and you should also come clean when your organization stumbles, etc., but if a media outlet is being sloppy or slanted use the above quote–don't reward bad behavior. That hurts those of us who do it right! Of course don't get uppity either. If a reporter shortens a quote with no material effect or makes a contraction two words, take it easy.

o Michigan's Message. I have mixed feelings about one aspect of the Michigan CU League's upcoming branding effort. Of course I am 100% behind branding efforts. I think they are worth the money. I think it's a travesty there is no national CU branding effort, especially after seeing the check cashers doing it. I think branding CUs can cure ills such as conversions and now takeovers. I commend the Michigan CU League for being able to succeed in getting support for branding efforts and understanding their value.

However, the Michigan League this week is expected to launch a few radio ads that focus on Comerica Bank's relocation out of Michigan, hammering the bank for leaving when times are tough. I would have stayed away from that. Drive home the CU difference, credit unions' passion for serving members, their dedication to Michiganders, but if we're now saying organizations can't pull out of areas they don't feel fit their plans, that's getting a little high and mighty. Michigan's biggest credit union almost converted to a bank for goodness sake. Not to mention lost in the Comerica story is that Comerica is keeping 7,300 employees and 161 branches in Michigan! It's not deserting the state, it's moving its headquarters to an area of the country where business and banking is booming. Isn't that smart business? It's not the CU model, but nonetheless.

I stress though that this is only one aspect of the MCUL's great effort to brand credit unions in Michigan. –Comments? E-mail [email protected]